Nine face losing driving licence following drink-driving crackdown

NINE motorists in York and Selby face losing their licences before Christmas, after being charged with drink-driving following North Yorkshire Police’s festive crackdown.

The 95 Alive York and North Yorkshire Road Safety Partnership’s annual drink and drug drive campaign began last Saturday and a total of 21 people have already been arrested on suspicion of getting behind the wheel while under the influence.

Police have called the figure “fairly high”, and said patrols would continue.

Traffic Sergeant Pete Stringer said: “Considering we arrested 100 people in the whole of last year’s campaign, 21 arrests is a fairly high figure in the first four days of this year’s operation.It is pleasing that we are catching the people who are prepared to take a foolish risk, but it is concerning that the message isn’t getting across to some.

“The message is loud and clear: drink driving costs lives. It’s as simple as that. If you take a chance and get behind the wheel after drinking or taking drugs, you are not only putting your own life at risk but the lives of innocent members of the public.

A 29-year-old man was arrested after crashing his car into a ditch in Fenton Lane, Sherburn-in-Elmet, after providing a breath test of 88 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, more than twice over the legal limit of 35mg/100ml. He will appear before Selby magistrates on Thursday.

On Monday, police arrested a 50-year-old man in York and a 51-year-old woman at Runswick, near Whitby, following suspected drink-drive incidents. Eight of those held were released on police bail as inquiries continued. Three people will have no further action taken against them. Those charged are due to appear in court over the next two weeks.

TS Stringer said: “The high number of arrests so far shows how serious and committed we are to catching drink and drug drivers and bringing them to justice. Remember, if you take the chance and think you can get away with it, we are waiting to catch you.”

Court dates for those arrested

THE following were among those arrested:

• A 26-year-old Hartlepool man will appear before Northallerton Magistrates’ Court on Friday, after being arrested in Richmond Market Place, following a positive test of 61micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath.

• A 42-year-old York man will appear before York Magistrates’ Court on Friday charged with drink driving, after he was stopped by officers in Crompton Road and provided a roadside test of 61mg of alcohol in 100 ml of breath.

• A 37-year-old man from Alicante will appear before York Magistrates’ Court on Friday, charged with failing to provide a specimen for analysis.

He was stopped by police in Beckfield Lane, York, and arrested after officers suspected him of being over the limit. He has also been charged with driving without a licence and driving without insurance.

• A 23-year-old woman and a 25-year-old man, both from York, have been charged with drink-driving following an accident in Elvington, and are due to appear at York Magistrates’ Court on Monday. The woman has also been charged with failing to stop at the scene of a collision and failing to report a collision.

• A 35-year-old man from Leeds is due before Selby Magistrates’ Court after he was arrested on the A19 at Chapel Haddesley after his vehicle hit a wall. He provided a positive roadside test of 63mg of alcohol in 100 ml of breath.

• A 22-year-old man from Richmond will appear before Northallerton Magistrates’ Court on Friday, after he provided a breath sample of 93 mg in 100 ml after being stopped by officers in Queen’s Road, Richmond.